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Chapitre 2; International audience

Most studies on the transfer of public policies to developing countries focus on the acceptance, the assimilation, or the refusal of norms. As a result, researchers usually analyze the factors of “cultural” resistance or “political” opposition to Western models of good governance (Brownlee, 2007; Bayart, 1996; Carothers, 2004.). But they often tend to insist on the importers’ failures rather than the exporters’ views to explain the rejection of the “democratic transplant.”1 So there is definitely a need to bridge academic gaps between three main categories of actors: the local ruling class, middlemen, and “translators,” and the international organizations that aim to promote political norms on a global scale. Africa’s most populated state, Nigeria, is an interesting case study in this regard, because it is both a typical example of bad governance and a testing ground for “democracy brokers.”2 Renowned for its corruption, its violence, and its “oil curse,” it has been monitored quite closely by the international community since the end of military rule and the return of civilian power in 1999. Compared to other countries in Africa, however, it seems to be less inf luenced by democracy brokers. A demographic and economic giant, Nigeria depends very little on international aid. Moreover, its ruling class is quite suspicious of foreign and humanitarian agencies that violated its national sovereignty during the Biafra War. A true regional power, Nigeria has also the capacity to reject Western models of governance despite poor management and the poverty of its population.

The article evaluates the impact of EU fishing activities for the sustainable development of Senegal's maritime fishery. An evaluation of Senegalese fisheries’ policy discourse introduces the idea that Senegalese fisheries’ policies have not been fully compatible with the sustainable development of the country's fishery sector. A comparative analysis of the sustainable development impacts associated with the activities of different fishery user groups shows that managed activities of heterogeneous user groups can benefit the sustainable development of the sector. Conclusions suggest that the heterogeneity of the user groups frequenting Senegal's marine fishery system can be capitalised upon through allocating fishery access in accord with each group's ability to generate sustainable development benefits. On the basis of these findings the article suggests that the presence of an EU fleet in Senegalese waters could play a meaningful role in ensuring the sustainable development of Senegal's marine fishery.

International audience